MEETING NOTES: February 18, 2023 Doc’s Seafood & Steaks, Orange Beach, AL
In attendance:
Kris Cook
Matthew Schroeder
John “Chico” Bethea
Freddy Wheeler
Susan McKinley
Chuck McKinley
Rodney Green
Tom Toomey
Erin Toomey
Whitney Hemphill (joined at this meeting)
Brian Isphording
Jared Rabren
Cindy Leavel
Kathleet “Mamma Kat” Zimmer
Michael Stieber
Kris passed out meeting notes from the previous meeting, along with a treasurer’s report. There was a successful motion to accept the notes from the 12/17/22 meeting and treasurer’s report as presented. These documents are approved and are now a part of the records of Dixie ABATE.
Special guest Cindy Leavel, from Accident Scene Management, spoke about the classes they offer. They talk about basic trauma care, the first 10 to 30 minutes after an accident. They give a basic and an advanced class, both running 6 to 7 hours. We need an attorney willing to sponsor the classes, so that they can offer them from $99.00 to $125.00 per registration. They are giving the class in March at Montgomery Harley Davidson. Find information online at https://roadguardians.org.
Kris passed around a copy of the hands-free bill, HB 8, that Randy Wood has pre-filed. He’s tried to work out the sticking points from last year, hoping for a favorable vote in committee this time around. He needs our support.
We set our Legislative day for Wednesday, March 22, 2023. We need all hands on deck for this, as we are serving breakfast to the entire floor, at 8 AM.
Kris reminded everyone to save the date: October 14, 2023, for an event at Barber Vintage Museum that everyone will enjoy.
Kris reported on American Income Life being back on board, on a trial basis. Everyone needs to send in their card and let their rep call them to pitch their other insurance policies.
Kris passed around NHTSA fatality statistics for the past several years. There were 78 fatalities in 2020.
We voted to amend the requirements for the Freddy Wheeler Rider Training Scholarship to include a life member, and for us to only pay the fee charged by the ATSC, regardless of where the class is taken. Kris to change flyer.
We voted to discontinue our billboard advertising until our treasury is larger.
Matt reported that Jamie Kiel told us he’d sponsor a helmet-free bill again this year. There is no evidence that he has pre-filed one, however.
Freddy reported that the way the DOT figures ad valorem tax for a motorcycle is still one of our key issues. No one has sponsored a bill to change the class of a motorcycle, however.
Matt gave the MRF news, which included the letter that Tim Walberg (R-MI-7) sent to NHTSA regarding fatal accidents involving self-driving cars being tested.
We reported on the passage of H. Res. 366, the motorcycle profiling resolution.
Bikers Inside the Beltway is May 15 & 16. We need everyone who can get away to attend this event in Washington DC. Sign up at www.mrf.org/events.
Thank you to Michael Steiber and Mullinax Ford for a generous donation to the A&E. Check with your employer to see if there is any kind of employer match when you donate! Donations to the A&E are 100% tax-deductible.
NEXT MEETING: Our next meeting is at 2 PM on April 15, 2023, in the Al Alexander Activities building (a little church) near the boardwalk to Bald Rock on the loop road around Cheaha State Park.
